Commencement Exercises Held May 12

St. Mary’s University held commencement exercises for almost 400 graduates on Saturday, May 12 at 1:30 p.m. in Freeman Coliseum.

The ceremony celebrated a total of 397 graduates, including 285 receiving bachelor’s degrees and another 112 receiving master’s degrees. This diverse graduating class included two married couples, one soldier currently serving in Iraq, and almost an entire family – father, son and nephew – all walking the stage.

Baccalaureate Mass was held Friday at 7 p.m. in Bill Greehey Arena in the Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center. This graduation tradition brings together graduates, their friends and families, and the St. Mary’s community for a liturgical celebration.

The keynote speaker was Henry E. Catto Jr., former U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom and a San Antonio native, who addressed the topics of free speech, democracy and civility. Ambassador Catto’s distinguished career of public service, included positions as director of the United States Information Agency, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Chief of Protocol of the United States of America, Ambassador to El Salvador and Deputy Representative to the Organization of American States.

His private sector career includes positions as vice chairman and president of Broadcast Group at H&C Communications, operator of network television stations in Houston; Orlando-Daytona Beach, Fla.; Nashville; Tucson, Ariz.; Des Moines, Iowa; and San Antonio, and partner in the insurance brokerage firm Catto & Catto in San Antonio.

Catto is the chairman of the Atlantic Council of the United States, a former member of the Smithsonian National Board, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and diplomat in residence at the University of Texas-San Antonio.